202 THE COLLECTED WORKS OF MAHATMA GANDHI

polygamous unions are even registered on the Transvaal registra-
tion certificates.

As doubts have arisen as to the meaning of the term "mono-
gamous marriage", I beg to record that the meaning that the com-
munity has placed upon it is that a marriage is monogamous if a
man is married to only one woman, no matter under what religion
and no matter whether such religion under given circumstances
sanctions polygamy or not.

I observe that paragraph 2 of your letter seems to suggest
that my reply to your last wire did not [cover], though it might have
covered, the other points referred to therein. I purposely refrained
from touching the other points as I felt that no scope was left open
for me to do so. But if Geneal Smuts is still prepared to consider
the other points, I shall be certainly prepared to make a further
submission. I cannot help feeling that the unfortunate rupture
has taken place on points very vital to the Indian community but
of little consequence to the Government or the dominant popula-
tion of the Union.

Pray, always consider me to be one the least desirous to obs-
truct the Government and most anxious to serve it in so far as I
can do so consistently with my duty to my countrymen.1

[I have, etc.,]
M. K. GANDHI

Indian Opinion, 29-10-1913

137. THE RESISTERS AT VOLKSRUST

We reported last week that the passive resisters were told
they would be deported on receipt of warrants from Pretoria.
Fuller details that have come to hand show that the spokesman2
was summoned before the Immigration Officer on Thursday3 last
and told that he had received instructions from Pretoria to submit
to the party for filling in forms prescribed under the Act. The
spokesman regretted that the party could not comply with the

1 Acknowledging this on September 27, Gorges wrote: "I have submitted
your communication to the Minister, who, after full consideration of the matter,
requests me to say that it will not be possible for him to give any assurance
that legislation on the lines indicated in Section 4 of my personal letter of the
19th ultimo to you wifl be introduced at the next session of Parliament."

2 Ghhaganlal Gandhi

3 September 18